第八章（第4/8页）

康妮的目光完全聚焦在他身上。无论是当日上身赤裸的他，还是现在衣着整齐的他，所透露出的那份孤寂都未曾变过。孤独而又专注，像头离群独居的野兽，自生自灭，但却也常苦思冥想，像个形单影只的灵魂，远离尘嚣。而此时此刻，他正以静默坚忍的态度，努力逃避着她关注的目光。性格焦躁、热情似火的七尺男儿，却能如此沉稳安静，拥有持久的耐心，正是这点触动了康妮的心灵。从他低垂着的头，灵活沉着的双手，以及伏着的纤细敏感的腰身，康妮体会到的是内敛和隐忍。她感觉他的人生历练远比自己深广，所遭所遇或许更加残酷。这样的想法让她感到释然，顿觉肩头的责任减轻许多。

So she sat in the doorway of the hut in a dream, utterly unaware of time and of particular circumstances. She was so drifted away that he glanced up at her quickly, and saw the utterly still, waiting look on her face. To him it was a look of waiting. And a little thin tongue of fire suddenly flickered in his loins, at the root of his back, and he groaned in spirit. He dreaded with a repulsion almost of death, any further close human contact. He wished above all things she would go away, and leave him to his own privacy. He dreaded her will, her female will, and her modern female insistency. And above all he dreaded her cool, upper-class impudence of having her own way. For after all he was only a hired man. He hated her presence there.

她坐在石屋门旁，如坠梦中，时间也好，特殊的环境也罢，她都浑然不觉。他抽冷子抬头向她望去，却发现那心旗摇曳的女人正呆呆发愣，脸上写满期待。对他而言，这是种渴望的神情。些许细小的火苗在他的腰部，后背下部的位置摇曳，他心底不由得发出呻吟。他不愿跟别人深交，甚至对此厌恶到极点。他盼着她能乖乖走开，还自己以清净的空间。她的意志，女性的欲望，还有那现代女性不达目的不罢休的态度，都让他心悸。而最令他感到害怕的，则是这种贵妇人的傲慢冷淡，我行我素。因为他毕竟只是受雇于人。她的到来让他心生反感。

Connie came to herself with sudden uneasiness. She rose. The afternoon was turning to evening, yet she could not go away. She went over to the man, who stood up at attention, his worn face stiff and blank, his eyes watching her.

突如其来的不安情绪，让康妮从白日梦中惊醒。她站起身。时间已从下午转到黄昏，但她仍不愿离去。她向那男人走去，而他则笔管条直地站在原地，沧桑的面庞略显僵硬，看不出半点表情，只是双眼凝视着她。

"It is so nice here, so restful," she said. "I have never been here before." "No?" "I think I shall come and sit here sometimes."

“这儿真美，让人心旷神怡。”她赞叹道。“我从未来过这里。”“没有吗？”“我想以后可以常来坐坐。”

"Yes?" "Do you lock the hut when you're not here?” "Yes, your Ladyship." "Do you think I could have a key too, so that I could sit here sometimes? Are there two keys?" "Not as Ah know on, ther' is na.” He had lapsed into the vernacular. Connie hesitated; he was putting up an opposition. Was it his hut, after all? "Couldn't we get another key?" she asked in her soft voice, that underneath had the ring of a woman determined to get her way.

“是么？”“你不在的时候，会把屋门锁上吗？”“是的，夫人。”“可以给我把钥匙吗？好让我能常来坐坐。有两把钥匙吗？”“据俺所知，没多余的。”他又搬出土话来。康妮感到迟疑，他显然有些抵触情绪。可毕竟那小屋并不属于他。“再配把钥匙不行么？”她问道，轻柔的语调透露出坚决，这女人打算独行其道。

"Another!" he said, glancing at her with a flash of anger, touched with derision.

“再弄一把！”他说，双目中闪烁着怒火，又带有几分嘲弄。

"Yes, a duplicate," she said, flushing.

“对，再配一把。”她说，脸已泛红。

“'Appen Sir Clifford 'ud know," he said, putting her off.

“大概克利福德爵士那儿会有。”他搪塞着她。

"Yes!" she said, "he might have another. Otherwise we could have one made from the one you have. It would only take a day or so, I suppose. You could spare your key for so long." "Ah canna tell yer, m'Lady! Ah know no'dy as ma'es keys round 'ere.” Connie suddenly flushed with anger.

“没错！”她说，“他或许有。不过，我们另配一把也无妨。我想这只消一天的工夫。这段时间你可以先别用自己的钥匙。”“那可说不准，夫人。俺不晓得周遭哪个会配钥匙。”康妮听完，气得满脸通红。

"Very well!" she said. "I'll see to it.” "All right, your Ladyship." Their eyes met. His had a cold, ugly look of dislike and contempt, and indifference to what would happen. Hers were hot with rebuff.

“很好！”她说。“我自己想办法。”“悉听尊便，夫人。”四目相对。他的眼神冷漠阴郁，充满厌恶与鄙夷，似乎康妮接下来要怎么做，与他毫无干系。而她的目光则因遭拒而燃起怒火。

But her heart sank, she saw how utterly he disliked her, when she went against him. And she saw him in a sort of desperation.

可她的情绪随即坠入谷底，她亲眼目睹，两人针锋相对时，他是多么厌恶自己。她看见他处于些许绝望之中。

"Good afternoon! "Afternoon, my Lady! He saluted and turned abruptly away. She had wakened the sleeping dogs of old voracious anger in him, anger against the self-willed female. And he was powerless, powerless. He knew it!

“再见！”“回见，夫人！”他行过礼，立即转身离去。他心中沉睡已久的暴怒已被唤醒，眼前这个任性胡为的女人让他气撞顶梁。但他却无计可施，无可奈何。他深知这一点！

And she was angry against the self-willed male. A servant too! She walked sullenly home.

而她也同样因为这个冥顽不灵的男人怒不可遏。不过是个下人而已！她怏怏地往回走。

She found Mrs. Bolton under the great beech-tree on the knoll, looking for her.

山坡上那棵硕大的山毛榉树下，站着的正是博尔顿太太，她正盼着女主人快些归来。

"I just wondered if you'd be coming, my Lady," the woman said brightly.

“我正琢磨着，您差不多该回来了，夫人。”她高兴地说。

"Am I late?" asked Connie.

“我回来晚了吗？”康妮问。

"Oh only Sir Clifford was waiting for his tea." "Why didn't you make it then?” "Oh, I don't think it's hardly my place. I don't think Sir Clifford would like it at all, my Lady.” "I don't see why not," said Connie.